Greg Kraft -- Winner / 2007 U.S. Open Local Qualifier / Palm Harbor, Florida
A tip of the LBG cap to Greg Kraft, who today WON the local 2007 U.S. Open qualifier at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida!
Greg, who has made 195 cuts on the PGA TOUR (earning more than $4 million) and 43 cuts on the Nationwide, bested a field of 80 with a brilliant 3-under par 69 in windy conditions. In all, there were six qualifiers, with a distant 73 playing off for the final spot.
Greg and I began our work together in mid-April at the Nationwide's Athens Regional Foundation Classic in Bogart, Georgia. We continued it the following week at the Henrico County Open in Richmond, Virginia. I broke into a broad smile -- actually a LOL! -- when I read his text message to me a couple of days after our first session:
"Got my straight line baseline with my right forearm flying wedge."
Greg told me he "struck the ball really well today," hitting 13 fairways and 17 greens. Of his 5 birdies, 4 were within 3 feet and both his bogies were 3-putts. He continues to integrate the instruction into his stroke, and for now, is finding it better to "swing easy" so that he can better "feel the lag pressure and positions and alignments." He said when he swings hard, he still tends to "throw away the lag pressure," especially with the driver. But, he says, "My short irons and pitch shots are deadly."
I'll get to see it again myself tomorrow. He's picking me up at the airport first thing in the morning for an all-day practice session at TPC Tampa Bay. http://www.tpc.com/tampa_bay/ The Sectional Qualifier in Bethesda, Maryland, is only two weeks away, and we've got work to do!
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